Introduction

This time, it wasn’t just a father and son trip—my daughter joined us too.
(My wife had to work 😢)

We boarded the Ariake Ferry at Nagasu Port, bound for Taira Port.

From Taira Port, we walked about 10 minutes to Tabira Station, and took the Shimabara Railway for a 15–20 minute ride to Omisaki Station, known as Japan’s closest station to the sea.

Ferry to Taira Port

We were sailing toward Taira Port.
You can see Mount Unzen (Unzen Fugendake) in the distance.

It was chilly with strong winds, so both kids wore jackets.
My son was super excited about his first ferry ride, while my daughter, who once got seasick on a ferry back from Busan, Korea, was a little nervous.
But thanks to the short distance, she was totally fine this time.

Arrival at Tabira Station

The Shimabara Railway runs bright yellow diesel cars.

This area is known for Kunimi High School, once famous in national high school soccer.
There’s even a giant soccer ball monument on the station platform.

Arrival at Omisaki Station

This really is Japan’s closest station to the sea.
The station is built right on the seawall, with the ocean spreading out just steps away.

What surprised me was the lack of any safety rails.
It’s a 5-meter drop to the shore, which can be thrilling—but with my curious first-grader daughter, we had to stay alert.

At the time, it was low tide, and the seabed of the Ariake Sea was clearly visible.
At high tide, the view transforms into an endless sea.

Playing on the Shore

Of course, we decided to walk down to the shore.

In the distance, we could see the mountains of Kumamoto Prefecture across the sea.
Nagasaki and Kumamoto are surprisingly close, just across the Ariake Sea.

The kids gathered seashells to bring home as a gift for their mom.

Return Ferry Ride

On the return trip, we enjoyed a relaxing ferry ride while looking back at Mount Unzen.

Inside the ship, we rested in the seats or gazed out at the passing scenery, soaking in the memories of the day.

Final Thoughts

This combination of ferry + local train isn’t something you experience in everyday life, so it felt refreshing and exciting for the kids.

Omisaki Station, Japan’s closest to the sea, definitely lives up to its name with its breathtaking openness.
This time we came during low tide, but I’d love to come back again during high tide to see the sea stretch endlessly before us.